Not sure this is what he's talking about but growing up we had a "root cellar", a room in the back of the basement that was naturally chilly. We had a big family so grew a huge garden. We could put bins of potatoes from the garden in there and they kept all winter. All of my mom's canned goods were on shelves there, homemade wine and things like that.

Wow! Does that seem like eons ago!

Storing root vegetables, stuff you might have canned or pickled, that kind of thing. If you have a garden, a cold room is a good thing!

I too have wondered and what I think it is.......if there is a porch.......it's the foundation for the raised porch as opposed to the house foundation wall. Since it is not considered house, there is no heating and thus must be separated by doors. They need to be ventilated to the outside......like an attic.

Or maybe it is just part of the basement that will be used for storage and thus need no heating. Years ago houses had root cellars for cold storage, maybe this is a hang over.

SheepieBoss wrote:

I too have wondered and what I think it is.......if there is a porch.......it's the foundation for the raised porch as opposed to the house foundation wall. Since it is not considered house, there is no heating and thus must be separated by doors. They need to be ventilated to the outside......like an attic.

Ours was exactly like that.

sheepdogma

Older homes used to have a cold room for storing canned goods, root vegetables, like Mady already said.How old the house was that Mike Holmes was working on? I haven't seen that episode.

I remember once viewing a home years ago that had one...guess it would kinda neat if you canned or had a large garden to store your veggies but I think nowadays people are too busy to ever want one in their home , unless they live on acreage.

Marianne

He's used that phrase in several shows. I have always taken it to mean an unheated area.

Actually on Holmes he means an unheated space, not meant to be"lived in" but separate an insulated from living space. Not like wemean as in cold storage or cold cellar for storage.Love me some Holmes! He's hot...

Shellie

Shellie wrote:

Actually on Holmes he means an unheated space, not meant to be"lived in" but separate an insulated from living space. Not like wemean as in cold storage or cold cellar for storage.Love me some Holmes! He's hot...

Shellie

He is HOT...but I think he has...maybe an ego problem...he comes off that way and that turns me off...but I never miss a show

I've always had a soft spot for big blondes guys.......yeah, he's hot. Plus he knows how to fix something!!! Something that passed the male side of my family.

Early episodes found him more meek. It's that take charge attitude that sold the producers on him. I too never miss and episode.

Lol. Thanks all. In this one there was a sump pump ( or something like that) in that room. We dont have those either. I'm guessing it was for storage. It was a pretty big area. Hate to think it was just wasted space.

I often wonder what all he would find wrong in my house.

My son bought a house this summer that was built in the '60's, he has a cold room and do I envy him. Wonderful for storing root vegetables and other things.

WINE!!!!

David, don't whine!

ooooh a wine cellar.........

Quote:

I often wonder what all he would find wrong in my house

Tell me about it! Our house was owner built.......a fireman. I know of one major problem, incorrectly placed furnace outlets..heater vents. When we redid the small bathroom last summer...before the kitchen...several glaring mistakes were found. Mike would have quite a time here.

Also makes me leary to purchase any home; old or new. Flipped houses especially should be suspect.

Mike will have to bring that cute plumber too......and Frank. I used to think Tommy from This Old House would be bad news......imagine Mike coming for a Holmes inspection.

in house in Durango years ago we had a built in sauna with a window to the outside. As we didnt do sauna's we would put all veg tins, canned good etc. in there. Oh yeah, and i would 'age' my deer or elk each year in it too for a week before we had butchering day. (it was already cleaned and gutted guys). Made a great freezer!

Hello,we in Yorkshire UK call this a pantry, its a bit cooler than the house and you keep tins, bread, veg etc in it. Liz xxx

Back in the day a lot of families grew their own vegetables and would can them. Cold room or Root cellar was used for storing canned vegetables, soups and stews. It maintains a consistent temperature year round.